Discussion
Hello all,
it's been a fair while since I've given an update on Vinny.
After getting fed up of taking the engine apart in the cold and wet of mid winter, due to a catastrophic oil leak I gave the car to an 'Italian specialist' in Leicester.
It was presumed that from where the oil was coming from, it was the push rod tube seals that were failing. These were changed 3 times, including swapping them from silicon to rubber.
4 months later (and extremely slow progress) I got the car back, drove 0.4 miles and it broke down with a worse oil leak than when it went in!
I got recovered home and then contemplated selling him.
Eventually I decided to have a go myself again (as the weather was starting to get decent)
I swapped out the spring push rod tubes for original, these sit alot better and slot into the cylinder head and block, rather than the spring tubes that just sit on the block.
Also I had a look at the aluminium rocker cover and it seemed to be resting on the thurmostat housing at the rear (another possible cause to my oil leak)
So with new push rod tubes, I shaved down the edges of the rocker cover, a new rocker gasket. It seems that I have finally sorted the oil leak! ??
I then had a go at sorting the wiring and cleaning up the engine bay a little, so some fresh yellow HT leads, black conduit and relocating the ignition coil I'm really happy with it now!
Been out today to road test and it runs and drives faultless! I cant believe I considered selling it when I got it back from the garage!
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/T1Z5uVaa.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/qn7tSLAk" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/qn7tSLAk.jpg)
it's been a fair while since I've given an update on Vinny.
After getting fed up of taking the engine apart in the cold and wet of mid winter, due to a catastrophic oil leak I gave the car to an 'Italian specialist' in Leicester.
It was presumed that from where the oil was coming from, it was the push rod tube seals that were failing. These were changed 3 times, including swapping them from silicon to rubber.
4 months later (and extremely slow progress) I got the car back, drove 0.4 miles and it broke down with a worse oil leak than when it went in!
I got recovered home and then contemplated selling him.
Eventually I decided to have a go myself again (as the weather was starting to get decent)
I swapped out the spring push rod tubes for original, these sit alot better and slot into the cylinder head and block, rather than the spring tubes that just sit on the block.
Also I had a look at the aluminium rocker cover and it seemed to be resting on the thurmostat housing at the rear (another possible cause to my oil leak)
So with new push rod tubes, I shaved down the edges of the rocker cover, a new rocker gasket. It seems that I have finally sorted the oil leak! ??
I then had a go at sorting the wiring and cleaning up the engine bay a little, so some fresh yellow HT leads, black conduit and relocating the ignition coil I'm really happy with it now!
Been out today to road test and it runs and drives faultless! I cant believe I considered selling it when I got it back from the garage!
Edited by Vinny126 on Sunday 11th July 19:58
Hello all,
it's been a fair while since I've given an update on Vinny.
After getting fed up of taking the engine apart in the cold and wet of mid winter, due to a catastrophic oil leak I gave the car to an 'Italian specialist' in Leicester.
It was presumed that from where the oil was coming from, it was the push rod tube seals that were failing. These were changed 3 times, including swapping them from silicon to rubber.
4 months later (and extremely slow progress) I got the car back, drove 0.4 miles and it broke down with a worse oil leak than when it went in!
I got recovered home and then contemplated selling him.
Eventually I decided to have a go myself again (as the weather was starting to get decent)
I swapped out the spring push rod tubes for original, these sit alot better and slot into the cylinder head and block, rather than the spring tubes that just sit on the block.
Also I had a look at the aluminium rocker cover and it seemed to be resting on the thurmostat housing at the rear (another possible cause to my oil leak)
So with new push rod tubes, I shaved down the edges of the rocker cover, a new rocker gasket. It seems that I have finally sorted the oil leak! ??
I then had a go at sorting the wiring and cleaning up the engine bay a little, so some fresh yellow HT leads, black conduit and relocating the ignition coil I'm really happy with it now!
Been out today to road test and it runs and drives faultless! I cant believe I considered selling it when I got it back from the garage!
it's been a fair while since I've given an update on Vinny.
After getting fed up of taking the engine apart in the cold and wet of mid winter, due to a catastrophic oil leak I gave the car to an 'Italian specialist' in Leicester.
It was presumed that from where the oil was coming from, it was the push rod tube seals that were failing. These were changed 3 times, including swapping them from silicon to rubber.
4 months later (and extremely slow progress) I got the car back, drove 0.4 miles and it broke down with a worse oil leak than when it went in!
I got recovered home and then contemplated selling him.
Eventually I decided to have a go myself again (as the weather was starting to get decent)
I swapped out the spring push rod tubes for original, these sit alot better and slot into the cylinder head and block, rather than the spring tubes that just sit on the block.
Also I had a look at the aluminium rocker cover and it seemed to be resting on the thurmostat housing at the rear (another possible cause to my oil leak)
So with new push rod tubes, I shaved down the edges of the rocker cover, a new rocker gasket. It seems that I have finally sorted the oil leak! ??
I then had a go at sorting the wiring and cleaning up the engine bay a little, so some fresh yellow HT leads, black conduit and relocating the ignition coil I'm really happy with it now!
Been out today to road test and it runs and drives faultless! I cant believe I considered selling it when I got it back from the garage!
Edited by Vinny126 on Sunday 11th July 19:58
Edited by Vinny126 on Sunday 11th July 20:00
Edited by Vinny126 on Sunday 11th July 20:03
Got a couple of minor jobs done over the weekend, I now have heating! Or rather the fumes of burning oil to warm up with.
Gave vinny a well deserved clean also so took a few fresh pictures
Alex
[url
|https://thumbsnap.com/tFNYXsMU[/url]
[url
|https://thumbsnap.com/ChMQ44HR[/url]
[url
|https://thumbsnap.com/ZzJ1oP1Y[/url]
Gave vinny a well deserved clean also so took a few fresh pictures
Alex
[url
|https://thumbsnap.com/tFNYXsMU[/url][url
|https://thumbsnap.com/ChMQ44HR[/url][url
|https://thumbsnap.com/ZzJ1oP1Y[/url]Vinny126 said:
Got a couple of minor jobs done over the weekend, I now have heating! Or rather the fumes of burning oil to warm up with.
Gave vinny a well deserved clean also so took a few fresh pictures
Alex
[url|https://thumbsnap.com/tFNYXsMU[/url]
[url|https://thumbsnap.com/ChMQ44HR[/url]
[url|https://thumbsnap.com/ZzJ1oP1Y[/url]
I love this little car, i bet it puts a smile on your face every time you drive it!!!Gave vinny a well deserved clean also so took a few fresh pictures
Alex
[url
|https://thumbsnap.com/tFNYXsMU[/url][url
|https://thumbsnap.com/ChMQ44HR[/url][url
|https://thumbsnap.com/ZzJ1oP1Y[/url]Well done for persevering. It's frustrating when things feel slightly against you and out if your control!
Car looks great and good fun!! I too love the wheels. I keep thinking about a simple and fun classic fiat (I like the look of 850's) but I know it will come with a dollop of pain (and cost).
Enjoy the rest of the summer in it!!
Car looks great and good fun!! I too love the wheels. I keep thinking about a simple and fun classic fiat (I like the look of 850's) but I know it will come with a dollop of pain (and cost).
Enjoy the rest of the summer in it!!
I haven't uploaded on here in months! Not alot has changed really, just a couple of minor bits. I finally (after nearly 4 years) go some centre caps. I wasn't too sure on these abarth ones at first upon ordering but really pleased with how they suit the wheels and they're not in your face at all. Also I hated the standard fog light and its positioning as it was hiding the ABARTH sump, so I grabbed a chrome universal one and slapping it on the other side and now I'm chuffed with that! Also being smaller and not so boxy it suits the car alot better.
Now it's just a case of getting it out and using it alot more 😁
Alex.
Now it's just a case of getting it out and using it alot more 😁
Alex.
It's been ages since posting an update on Vinny.
I hadn't touched vinny most of the year, I had a son in August so most of this year has been spent concentrating on him and Vinny has just been left behind.
So, come early October I got a message off of Fiat Motor Club GB asking if I was willing to display him at the NEC classic car show. So I had just under a month to sort him out, it didn't take much, just a battery charge, check on timing and oil top up and he was ready to go!
One weekend on display and his back under cover now until the new year. Or if I get some serious snow I may take him out for a little RWD slow fun
I hadn't touched vinny most of the year, I had a son in August so most of this year has been spent concentrating on him and Vinny has just been left behind.
So, come early October I got a message off of Fiat Motor Club GB asking if I was willing to display him at the NEC classic car show. So I had just under a month to sort him out, it didn't take much, just a battery charge, check on timing and oil top up and he was ready to go!
One weekend on display and his back under cover now until the new year. Or if I get some serious snow I may take him out for a little RWD slow fun
SirGriffin said:
Motor magazine did a road test in the 1980s of a De Ville edition 126, with a matching specially designed caravan! Incredible to think that anyone thought the 126 was capable of towing a caravan of any description.
I wonder if any were actually sold/survive?
Alot did especially over in Poland. They have a gathering in Warsaw and there are quite a few that arrive with a little caravan in tow! I wonder if any were actually sold/survive?
Vinny126 said:
Alot did especially over in Poland. They have a gathering in Warsaw and there are quite a few that arrive with a little caravan in tow!
Indeed the N126 caravan is still made:https://autoline24.uk/-/caravan-trailers/NIEWIADOW...
What a cracking wee car, and a great thread.
This is what I love about older cars - the opportunity to fettle and fiddle around with the mechanics and other components with relative ease, unlike modern stuff. When I lift the bonnet on my daily I haven’t a clue what’s where really, nor any interest in finding out. It’s not even got a bloody dipstick!
Keep the updates coming please
This is what I love about older cars - the opportunity to fettle and fiddle around with the mechanics and other components with relative ease, unlike modern stuff. When I lift the bonnet on my daily I haven’t a clue what’s where really, nor any interest in finding out. It’s not even got a bloody dipstick!
Keep the updates coming please
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